Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016) Review
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Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016) Verdict
Great track car with sharp handling and 911-rivalling acceleration. One of the best looking Porsche Spyders. Thunderous soundtrack.
You'll need at least £80,000 to buy a used one. Roof is fiddly to raise and lower. Firm ride.
Find out more about the Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016)
With eye-catching good looks, a thunderous noise and a top speed of 180mph, the Boxster Spyder is the diminutive supercar experience. At £60,000, it isn't cheap, but few roasters get anywhere near the performance or reward of the 911-powered Spyder.
The key to the Boxster Spyder's performance is found in its mid-engine set-up, which utilises the same six-cylinder engine as the 911 Carrera S. As a result the Spyder is supercar quick, with its 375PS 3.8-litre engine producing 420Nm of torque and covering 0-62mpg in 4.5 seconds.
Like the previous Spyder, the Boxster is aimed at track enthusiasts, with Porsche using aluminium body panels, lightweight bucket seats and a manual folding fabric roof to shed weight. The radio and air conditioning have also been dispensed in the quest for performance - although both can be added as a no cost option.
As you might expect, the handling is light and nimble, with direct and responsive steering that combines sharp responses with near-perfect balance. The Spyder will easily reach 100mph in under six seconds, while its 1300kg kerb weight will leave all but the most accomplished of track drivers in its wake.
Like any track-focused roadster, there are sacrifices to be made in regards to refinement and comfort. The Boxster Spyder sits 20mm lower than the standard version and employs stiff sports suspension which can feel harsh at lower speeds or when travelling over less than perfect road surfaces. However, if you can live with the bumpy ride, there is a huge amount of fun to be had fun here, with the high revving engine delivering peak power at 6700rpm.
The Boxster is easy to drive and howls along with 911-like gusto, with its race car mechanicals producing huge levels of grip in the corners. Power is delivered to the rear-wheels via a short shifting six-speed manual gearbox - there's no PDK here - but the wide ratios are perfectly suited to the high revving nature of the engine, which means you can hold it in a relatively low gear for corning.
The Spyder is thirsty. Official fuel consumption is 28.5mpg, but spirited driving will easily half this. The manual fabric folding roof is fiddly too, which can leave you frustrated when trying to quickly secure the fittings in a sudden rain shower. That said, with the top down, the Boxster Spyder is one of the most rewarding roadsters money can buy, with its good looks complemented by a thunderous soundtrack.
Some might take issue with colossal £60,000 price tag, but Porsche’s roadster is undoubtedly a classic in the making. Even more so when you consider it is the last of the naturally aspirated Boxsters. Beautiful to look at, engaging to drive and thunderous to the ear, this is a fitting tribute and sadly the last of its kind.
Reviews for Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016)'s top 3 rivals
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Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016) handling and engines
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 27–30 mpg
The Boxster Spyder is powered by a detuned version of the 3.8-litre engine found in the 911 Carrera S. It might be 25PS down on the 911, but with 375PS, the Boxster Spyder loses none of the six-cylinder's potency, covering 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds before thundering on to a top speed of 180mph.
As you might expect, the Spyder works best with the roof down. It sounds fantastic, with the twin-exhaust emitting a deep rumble that builds as you increase the throttle. At motorway speeds the exhaust quietens down, which makes it comfortable enough to use on long trips without the need to raise your voice to speak with your passenger.
Phenomenally quick in a straight line, it is easy to achieve supercar-rivalling performance with 420Nm of torque providing rapid acceleration through all of the gears. Activating the Sport button improves the throttle response and makes the exhaust louder, with peak power arriving at 6700rpm. Power is delivered to the rear-wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox - there's no PDK option - and the long ratios are well matched to high revving nature of the six-cylinder engine.
A Sport Chrono package is fitted as standard and power to the rear-wheels is controlled via a mechanical differential to prevent wheel spin and improve stability when cornering. The brakes are sharp too, with the calipers and rotors carried over from the 911 Carrera S, which means the Boxster can be pushed hard without fear of the back-end snapping out. However, even in the wet, the Spyder is easy to drive, with its firm suspension and excellent steering system providing huge levels of feedback through the wheel.
Limo-like refinement is not an area where the Boxster Spyder excels. Porsche has trimmed the kerb weight to just 1300kg, with the use of aluminium body panels, reduced insulation and a lightweight manual folding fabric roof. The sports suspension sits 20mm lower to the road compared to the standard Boxster and the ride can get quite bumpy on the standard fit 20-inch wheels, especially on potted roads or at lower speeds in and around town.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxster Spyder | 29 mpg | 4.5 s | 230 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
99%
Real MPG
27–30 mpg
MPGs submitted
3
Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016) interior
- Boot space is 280 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4414 mm |
| Width | 1978 mm |
| Height | 1262 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2475 mm |
The cabin reflects Porsche's 'purist' approach to the Boxster Spyder,. There are few creature comforts. Both the infotainment and air conditioning have been removed to save weight, although both can be added as a no cost option.
As with the standard Boxster, the Spyder is strictly a two-seater affair, with a pair of bucket seats finished in part cloth and leather. Both provide lots of comfort and all-round support, but there is no height or seat back adjustment. However, for the driver, the positioning is near-perfect, with an excellent view of the road and a small, Alcantara clad steering wheel that is identical to that found in the Cayman GT4.
The instruments are all clear and easy to read, with the speedo and rev counter placed deep into the dashboard to preventing the sun from reflecting off the glass and preventing you from understanding how quickly you're motoring with the roof down. If truth be told, the cabin feels more supercar than roadster, with the handles replaced by cloth tags and simple controls for the heating and ventilation.
Getting the roof down is a bit fiddly, as you have to press a switch in the cabin to pop the holding latch, before getting out of the car to manually lower the roof by unclipping the side fins and folding the roof behind the cabin. After a dozen or so times, it become second nature, but we found it tricky to locate the buttons to unclip the fins, with the button hidden beneath the cloth that covers the top of each fin.
With the roof down, the Boxster Spyder can get a little blustery, but seldom feels overwhelming and wind noise levels are low enough to hold a conversation with your passenger without the need to shout. Things become a bit more refined with the roof in place.
As with the standard Boxster, there are useful pockets and a glovebox. Fold out cup holders are also standard, while the boot - located at the front - will easily take a small suitcase or a couple of overnight bags. There's not a lot of space behind the seats though, so taking the Boxster Spyder anywhere requires you to pack light.
Standard equipment:
20-inch Boxster Spyder light alloy wheels, Silver with 235/35 ZR tyres front and 265/35 ZR tyres rear, six-speed manual gearbox, sports suspension, Porsche Stability Management (PSM) Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) inc. rear diff lock, sports seats finished in Alcantara/partial leather Black finish xenon headlights, door trims with opening loops in black tyre pressure monitoring, sportdesign steering wheel in Alcantara, floor mats, tyre-pressure monitoring ,headrests with stitched Spyder logo in Black and Sport Chrono package with Sport and Sport Plus button.
Porsche Boxster Spyder (2015 – 2016) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4414 mm |
| Width | 1978 mm |
| Height | 1262 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2475 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1315 kg |
| Boot Space | 280 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £61,399 |
| Insurance Groups | 49 |
| Road Tax Bands | L |
| Official MPG | 28.5 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
| Roadster | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Roadster 3.8 Spyder 2dr | £61,399 | 28.5 mpg | 4.5 s |
Model History
April 2015
Porsche Boxster Spyder launched
Porsche unveiled the new Boxster Spyder which will be launched here in July priced at £60,459. The stripped down version of the Boxster gets a 20mm lower ride height, sports suspension and brakes from the 911 Carrera.
Power comes from a larger 3.8-litre engine borrowed from the Carrera S with 375PS which gives the Boxster Spyder a 0-62mph time of just 4.5 seconds. Official fuel consumption is 28.5mpg.
Designed as a 'purists' version of the Boxster, the Spyder retains several weight-saving features from the previous model including a fabric roof that is opened and closed by hand, plus it's only available with a manual gearbox. There's no PDK here.
The distinctive Spyder design has two bulges that flow down along the rear deck from behind the head restraints while the front and rear end are taken from the new Cayman GT4.
Inside, the Boxster Spyder has lightweight bucket seats with bolstered side supports along with a new steering wheel. There's no radio or air conditioning as standard although both can be ordered as no cost optional extras.
